I'm not a huge Star Wars fan. Don't get me wrong, I like the world (worlds?) they have created and I love the movies, it has just never held my heart the way it does for some people; I'm more of a Trekkie is all. But my man Darth Vader, he's a different story. That dude has style. He doesn't just rule the galaxy, he makes you believe he rules it, with everything he does. He's proof positive that a character doesn't have to have good intentions to be likeable. So when I heard that Disney had tasked Marvel Comics with a Vader book as part of their Star Wars comic line-up, I was a regular reader from the get-go. It is now on its second run in 2 years (even with Disney oversight it seems some things never change...) and issue 5 came out this week. Let's take a look.
Something worth remembering is that Disney/Lucasfilm decided that all Star Wars works released after The Force Awakens would be canon with each other. So whether it's a novel, cartoon, comic, or movie, it's all intended to be part of the same linear story in the same universe. I suppose if anyone could manage a project like that in comics it would be Marvel, given the size and complexity of their own comic universe. Darth Vader is set in the time between Revenge of the Sith and a New Hope, but before Rogue One, so you have to wonder how much more material they can get into this timeline before it's all been done. They have squeezed a lot in so far, Vader's previous run even spawning a spin-off book, Doctor Aphra.
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| No dear, I don't need the instructions! I'll fix it! Hm? Yes, milk and sugar, thanks. |
In this issue, we see Vader on his quest to complete his Sith light saber. To make his weapon, he must take the light saber of a Jedi (not easy, since his buddy Palpatine has just wiped them out), then corrupt its crystal to the dark side. It's a cool idea and it adds a lot when you realise this comic is revealing the canon story for how Vader got his light saber. Artist Giuseppe Camuncoli really shows his talent for visual storytelling in this issue, which has been a hallmark for the whole series and I really urge you to check it out as an example of images not having to rely on text to keep you interested and informed. The low use of dialogue suits the character of Vader very well, and writer Charles Soule should be commended for the great partnership he has with the people creating the visual element of this book that allows them both to tell the story in a very effective way. And that art is truly wonderful, with inks from Cam Smith and colours from David Curiel making one of the most visually rich comics that Marvel currently sell.
The story in this issue is very rewarding for Vader fans, with plenty of nods to the movies and continuing one of this series' greatest storytelling treats, where we get to see a character that is established in our minds as all-powerful and pretty much invulnerable, having to struggle and work through problems. It adds a lot to his character and I think I will enjoy the films more the next time I re-watch them because of these comics. The solitary nature of his character and his story arc means you can follow this book easily without reading the other Star Wars comics if you don't want to or don't have time. This is a book that goes from strength to strength, and it's worth jumping on now as I think they are building up to something big in Vader's story very soon.
4 / 5
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